Here are my latest MLB power rankings. (For my thoughts on the Orioles, click here.)
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (11-6, No. 1 last week): This is still the strongest roster in the game, but I count at least eight significant pitchers on the injured list. It’s a warning that more injuries are possible. Amazingly, the Dodgers, Padres, Giants and Diamondbacks are collectively 44-20.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (9-6, No. 2): It’s looking like a two-team horse race in the NL East unless Braves autocorrect in a hurry. My money is on the Phils’ rotation. Will Jordan Romano hold up as the closer?
3. San Diego Padres (13-3, No. 8): This was the best team in baseball in ’24 after the All-Star break. The Padres have picked up where they left off even with Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove down and Tanner Scott, Ha-Seong Kim and Donovan Solano having left in free agency. One man who is back is skipper Mike Shildt, who has the trust and confidence of his team.
4. Chicago Cubs (11-7, No. 3): Lefty Justin Steele is undergoing season-ending elbow surgery, a huge blow to the rotation. Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga are giving skipper Craig Counsell solid innings. Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly and Michael Busch are doing the heavy lifting offensively.
5. New York Mets (10-5, No. 7): Re-signing Pete Alonso, hitting .321/.431/.660 with 18 RBIs, was always the smart play. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto are off to slow starts, and yet the Mets are still finding ways to win. Kodai Senga, David Peterson and Tylor Megill are more than holding down the fort until Sean Manaea gets back.
6. Detroit Tigers (9-6, No. 11): Feels a little smoke-and-mirrorish on offense, but Spencer Torkelson may be on the verge of becoming a monster. The starting pitching is also very beastly with reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Reese Olson and emerging youngster Jackson Jobe. I have no idea what happened to last year’s closer Jason Foley, but Tommy Kahnle is a long shot to hold up for long as a closer.
7. New York Yankees (8-7, No. 4): We knew when Gerrit Cole went down that their rotation hopes would possibly go on tilt. Aside from Max Fried, it’s a real train wreck. Devin Williams has been awful to date. On the bright side, they do have Aaron Judge. It’s going to take a lot of torpedo bat success to outhit this starting rotation.
8. Texas Rangers (9-7, No. 3): The big-time start faded a good bit. Jacob deGrom may never again reach the electric heights at which he once flew. It’s amazing that Nathan Eovaldi is still throwing at this level given all he’s been through in terms of injuries. The season may rest on Tyler Mahle, Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker. On the offensive side, someone tell Joc Pederson that the season has started — especially with Wyatt Langford on the IL again.
9. Boston Red Sox (8-9, No. 6): The lineup looks mighty. Not only did the Sox add a solid bat in Alex Bregman, but they may be finally starting to get the real Trevor Story. The problem begins in the rotation behind ace Garrett Crochet. Walker Buehler, Tanner Houck and Sean Newcomb have been anywhere from underwhelming to awful. The good news is that Brayan Ballo, Kutter Crawford and Lucas Giolito might be the cavalry.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (9-7, No. 10): Ketel Marte is out due to a hamstring injury, but his teammates have picked up the slack. Corbin Carroll has been one of the best players in baseball, hitting .333/.425/.698 with five homers. Josh Naylor, acquired via trade this past offseason to replace Christian Walker, is hitting .322/.448/.490 with just six strikeouts.
11. Milwaukee Brewers (8-8, No. 11)
12. Kansas City Royals (8-8, No. 13)
13. Toronto Blue Jays (9-7, No. 15)
14. San Francisco Giants (11-4, No. 9)
15. Cleveland Guardians (8-7, No. 19)
16. Baltimore Orioles (6-9, No. 14)
17. Houston Astros (7-8, No. 16)
18. Los Angeles Angels (9-6, No. 18)
19. Cincinnati Reds (8-8, No. 23)
20. Atlanta Braves (4-11, No. 17)
21. Seattle Mariners (8-8, No. 28)
22. Tampa Bay Rays (7-8, No. 22)
23. Athletics (6-10, No. 21)
24. Washington Nationals (6-9, No. 26)
25. Miami Marlins (8-7, No. 20)
26. St Louis Cardinals (7-8, No. 25)
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (5-11, No. 27)
28. Minnesota Twins (5-11, No. 24)
29. Chicago White Sox (4-11, No. 29)
30. Colorado Rockies (3-12, No. 30)